What a beautiful week to be stuck with nothing to do but walk on deserted trails while maintaining proper social distancing. All the while watching the surface reports come in and wondering just how great South Straits would have been. Yes, it’s a little light now up in the Straits and around the Salish Sea in general however by this evening a nice northwesterly would be filling down the Strait of Georgia giving teams a nice downwind ride in moonlight. I’ll start reserving these conditions for next year right now!
The overall weather pattern is still unsettled however since it’s bringing even more snow to the Cascades and Olympics, we’ll take it. Like we have many choices. LA may not like rain in such quantities however it will help them as well. At least we won’t be subjected to the wild weather in the eastern US or the ravages of a very intense Cyclone Harold in the South Pacific.
We have a weak low-pressure system with a stationary front to the north of us with a multiplicity of lows to the east of us. This will allow a moderate onshore flow to come down the Strait of Jdf and Strait of Georgia. Then as the stationary front drifts to the south, it will bring some high clouds over the area late today and into tomorrow. As it continues to the south this will create an offshore flow over the area into Sunday which will bring with it sunshine and warmer temperatures.
April 10 500MB 
April 10 Surface Analysis 
April 11 Surface Forecast 
April 12 500MB 
April 12 Surface Forecast 
April 13 Surface Forecast 
April 14 500MB 
April 14 Surface Forecast
What will be interesting to watch is the North Pacific High, which while still not exactly strong and decidedly elongated on a north-south axis, is very effectively setting us up for more nice days and even warmer temps. This is reinforced by the jet stream so check the upper air charts. As the NPH becomes stronger and drifts slowly to the east, this will bring a nice onshore northwesterly flow to the area to keep us from getting too warm, too soon.
In the meanwhile, enjoy these days and stay safe!
Bruce has raced and cruised the Pacific Northwest his entire life. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Washington in Biological Oceanography and learned meteorology “to keep from getting kicked around on the race course.” Bruce spent nearly two decades as Associate Publisher for Northwest Yachting Magazine, retiring in mid-2015, and was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association in 2014. (photo of Bruce driving Playstation is a bit dated, but cool)